Locomotive tender



Oct. 17, 1939. c. J. suRDY LocoMoTIvE TENDER Filed Dec. '7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ch srl @Y @Zay/W Oct. 17, 1939. J, SURDY 2,176,596l

LOCOMOTIVE TENDER Filed Dec. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i T I I l'' g 16' v Z1' 17 21 .9 i9, l

8 3,8 /7 l L .f7/3'7" AZ Il Il 1.145

I' Il@ l INVENTOR Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PAreNr orrlce LocoMo'rIvE TENDER Application December 7, 1937, Serial No. 178,451

14 Claims.

This invention relates to locomotive tenders of the type provided with a fuel conveying mechanism of a locomotive stoker.

It is an object of Athis invention to provide a new and improved locomotive tender construction in which there is embodied a stoker conveyor so arranged that inspection and repair thereof may be made conveniently.

A further object of this invention is to provide a stoker conveyor which is so related with the locomotive tender that the drive mechanism for the stoker conveyor may be inspected, repaired and removed from a point within the fuel compartment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a structure as dened above whereby the stoker conveyor occupies a minimum amount; of space on the tender.

These and other objects, together with their advantages will become apparent as the description of the invention is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical medial section through the forward portion of a locomotive tender, with the invention in similar section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rear part of the stoker conveyor vshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the rearward portion of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the lines 4 4 Aof Figure 1;

Figure 5 isV a sectional ViewA in plan taken on the line 5-5 of Figure'4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a modification.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, T represents the tender, having a tank I0 mounted above the frame II. The tank Ill includes a fuel compartment or bin I2 and a water compartment I3. Side sheets I4, I5, a rear slope sheet I6 and a bottom plate '9 normally separate the fuel and water compartments.

In the present instance, the bottom plate 9 is apertured at Il through which fuel is adapted to fall by gravity into a trough conduit I8`of a Stoker conveyor C. Along the upper side of the trough conduit I8, the bottom plate 9 is secured in water-tight fashion. The trough I 8 is supported from the frame II by foot members 20. Flow of fuel into the trough conduit I8 is controlled by slidable plates 2|.

'I'he trough conduit I8 is approximately V- shaped in section and contains a conveyor screw 22 arranged to urge fuel forwardly against a Crusher 23 whereby large lumps are reduced to a size more suitable for economical firing. The Crusher 23 is secured to the inner side of the front Wall 24 of trough conduit I8. On the other i side of the front wall 24 is secured a spherical shell 25, forming one element of a ball and socket joint between the trough conduit I8 and a conduit leading forwardly toward the locomotive (not shown).

The rearward portion of the trough conduit I8 is provided with a well `2t, the bottom 21 of which is spaced below the conveyor screw 22 and above the tender frame I I.A Depending from the well 26 are the foot members 28 which are secured to the frame II, affording a firm support for the rearward end of the trough conduit I8.

The operating .mechanism for driving the conveyor screw 22 includes a'reduction gear unit 29 housed within the gear case 30. The gear case 30 is disposed 'within the well 26 and is provided with a flange 3I in abutting relation with a flange 32 formed interiorly of the well 26. Studs 33 are secured into the ange 32 for receiving the flange 3l of the gear case 30. cover 34 closes the open forward side of the gear case 30 and is provided with suitable holes for engagement by studs 33. A nut 35 is threaded over the outward end of each stud 33 whereby the cover 34 is secured to the gear case 30, and the cover 34 and gear c-ase 30 are securely attached to the flange 32 of the well 26. Studs 36 are screwed into the ange 3| of the gear case 30 for engaging the cover 34 so that the latter may be secured to the former independently of the means which secures the gear case 30 to the trough conduit well 26.

In approximate axial alignment with the conveyor screw 22 is a shaft 3l, journaled in the gear case 3l) and the cover 34, and being pro- Videdwith a polygonal outward portion 3B in driving engagement with the rearward end of the conveyor screw 22. Interiorly of the gear case 34, the shaft 31 has secured thereon a driven gear 39 which is meshed by a driving pinion 4l! on the driving shaft 4I. 'Ihe sha-ft 4I, which is journaled in the gear case 30 and cover 34, is arranged with its axis at one side of the trough conduit 22 but within the confines of the well structure 26. A shaft 42 extends into the well structure 26 and is coupled at 43 to the driving shaft 4I. A tube 44 surrounds the shaft 42 to protect it from the water in compartment I3. The well structure 25 extends forward of the gear case 30, forming an upward opening 45 which is directed into the V-shaped trough conduit I8. In order to prevent coal from passing into the well structure 26, a removable plate 48 is secured to the trough conduit over the opening 45.

Along each lateral upper edge of the trough conduit I8, a guideway 41 is formed for receiving the outward ends of the slide plates 2I which control the flow of fuel into the trough I8. Each guideway 41 is formed by a lip 48 and a plate 49 spaced above the lip. At the rearward portion of the trough conduit I8, the sidewalls thereof are widened so that the gear case 30 Vmay be withdrawn, in a manner presently to be described. The widened portion of the trough conduit I8 is provided, along each lateral upper edge thereof, with a ledge 50 to each of which a plate 5I is secured by screws 52. Each plate Y5I carries, on its underside, a guideway 8 arranged to register with a corresponding guideway 41 whereby the plates 2l are slidably mounted longitudinally of the trough.

When the locomotive and tender arrive at a roundhouse for running repairs, or at a backshop for classified repairs, the drive mechanism at the rear of the trough conduit I8 may be readily inspected and repaired if necessary. It will be observed that the slide 'plates 2I` may be drawn forwardly until an opening is formed immediately above and at the rear of the trough conduit I8. This conditionV is shownin Figures 1 and 2. Then upon removal of the plates 5I and any slidable plates 2l carried therebeneath, a wide, unobstructed opening is formed through which access may be had, from the fuel compartment I2, to the Stoker operating mechanism.

First, however, the conveyor screw 22 is uncoupled from the shaft 31 and moved forwardly; then, the removable plate l46'is slid forwardly along the trough conduit I8 to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 3. It is also essential to uncouple the shafts 4I and 42. The entire gear case 30, cover 34 and gearing carried thereby may be removed by loosening the nuts 35 over the studs 33. Removal of the gear case 36 and cover 34-is accomplished by drawing these parts forwardly -to a position immediatelyr below the opening between the trough conduit I8 and the fuel compartment I2. Then, by partially turning the gear case and cover as shown by the arrow in Figure 4, these parts may be lifted upwardly between?. the ledges 58. It will be apparenty that the cover 34 is maintained in position over the gear case 30 by studs 36 and nuts 36a. whereby the entirefgear reduction unit may be removed for inspection and repair purposes. Whenever it is desired to inspect the gears, the cover 34 may be removed while the gear case 38 remains in position.

In the modification shown in Figure 1, the gear case 60 is made as a permanent part of the trough conduit ISI.V The cover 34Y is secured over the open portion of the gear case 60 by means of studs 62 and engaging nuts suchrasfBS. The advantage of this construction is that the well 64 may be made considerably smaller than that shown in Figures l to 6, inclusive. vThe cover 34 may be removed as hereinbefore described in connection with the first form of the invention.

In either form, the gears'may be withdrawnvwithV the cover 34 by first loosening the securing means between cover and gear case, and then drawing the shafts 31, 4I forwardly.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those familiar with the art that ythe stated Vobjects have been attained by a construction which isdurable yet inexpensive to install and maintain.

I claim:

l. In a locomotive tender having a fioor and a fuel compartment above said floor, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said iioor, said Stoker cefrrveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism within said trough conduit for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said drive mechanism including an drive shaft operatively connected to said conveyor screw below the level of said floor, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said drive shaft from its operative position with said conveyorscrew through the open mouth of said trough into,V said fuel compartment.

2. In a Ylocomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said floor and-a water compartment extendingbelow said oor, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said iioor and arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a well at its rearward portion extending below said trough conduit, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said troughl conduit, and drive mechanism in said well extending below said trough conduit and being operatively connected with said conveyor screw, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said drive mechanism from said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment. y

3. In a locomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said floor and a water Y compartment extending below said floor, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor and arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, said stoker Yconveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a wellV at its rearward portion extending below Ysaid trough conduit, a conveyor screwhrotatablyrmounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism in said ,well extending below said trough-conduit and beingV operatively connected with said conveyor screw, said drive mechanism including a drive shaft below the level of said flood, said, trough conduit being formed for removal of said drive shaft from said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment. Y

4. In a locomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said floor and a Vwater compartment` extending below said floor, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor and arranged to receivefuel from said fuel compartment, said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having awell at its rearward portion extending below said trough conduit, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit,

and drive mechanism'in said well extending below said trough conduit and being operatively connected with said conveyor screw, said drive mechanism including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gear case from said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment.

5. In a locomotive tender having a oor, a fuel compartment above said floor anda water compartment extending below Said floor, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor and arranged to receive fuel from Said fuel compartment, said Stoker `conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a well at its rearward portion extending below Said trough conduit, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism in said well extending below said trough' conduit and being operatively7 connected with said conveyor screw, Said drivemechanism including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gear case and cover from said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment. A

6. In a locomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said oor and a water compartment extending below Said floor, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor and arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, Said Stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a well at its rearward portion extending below said trough conduity a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism in Said well extending below said trough conduit and being operatively connected with Said conveyor screw, said drive mechanism including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said cover and gearing from Said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment.

7. In a locomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said oor and a water compartment extending below said floor, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor and arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, said Stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a well at its rearward portion extending below Said trough conduit, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in Said trough conduit, and drive mechanism in said well extending below said trough conduit and being operatively connected with said conveyor Screw, said drive mechanism including a gear caSea cover therefor and gearing within Said gear case, Said trough conduit being formed for removal of Said cover from said well through the open mouth of said trough into Said fuel compartment.

8. In a locomotive tender having a floor, a fuel compartment above said floor and a water compartment extending below Said floor, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of Said floor and arranged to receive fuel from Said fuel compartment, said Stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth communicating with said fuel compartment and having a well at its rearward portion extending below Said trough conduit, a conveyor Screw rotatably mounted in Said trough conduit, and drive mechanism in Said well extending below said trough conduit and being operatively connected with said conveyor Screw, said drive mechanism including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gearing from Said well through the open mouth of said trough into said fuel compartment.

9. In a locomotive tender having a floor and Va fuel compartment, Said floor being provided l with an aperture, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of Said floor, said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication with Said fuel compartment through the aperture in said fioor, a conveyor Screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said drive means from its operative relation with Said conveyor screw through said open mouth and the aperture in said oor into said fuel compartment.

10. In a locomotive tender having a floor and a fuel compartment, Said floor being provided with an aperture, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor, Said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication with Said fuel compartment through the apertures in Said floor, a conveyor Screw rotatably mounted in Said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said drive means including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gear case from its operative position through said open mouth and the aperture in Said floor into said fuel compartment.

l1. In a locomotive tender having a floor and a fuel compartment Said floor being provided with an aperture, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of Said floor, Said Stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication with said fuel compartment through the aperture in said floor, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in Said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, Said drive means including a gear case,l a cover therefor and gearing within Said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gear case and cover from its operative position through Said open mouth and the aperture in said floor into said fuel compartment.

12. In a locomotive tender having a floor and a fuel compartment, Said floor being provided with an aperture, a stoker conveyor positioned below the level of Said floor, said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication` with said fuel compartment, through the aperture in said floor, a conveyor Screw rotatably mounted in Said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said drive means including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing Within Said gear case, Said trough conduit being formed for removal of said cover and gearing from its operative position through said open mouth and the aperture in said floor into Said fuel compartment.

13. In a locomotive tender having a oor and a fuel compartment, said floor being provided with an aperture, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor, Said stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication with said fuel compartment through the aperture in said oor, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said drive means including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said cover from its operative position through said open mouth and the aperture in said oor into said fuel compartment.

14. In a locomotive tender having a floor and a fuel compartment, said oor being provided with an aperture, a Stoker conveyor positioned below the level of said floor, said Stoker conveyor including a trough conduit having an upwardly opening mouth providing communication with said fuel compartment through the aperture in said floor, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said trough conduit, and drive mechanism for operating said conveyor screw from its rearward end, said drive means including a gear case, a cover therefor and gearing within said gear case, said trough conduit being formed for removal of said gearing from its operative position through said open mouth and the aperture in said floor into said fuel compartment.

CHARLES J. SURDY. 

